"Maureen McHugh - Presence" - читать интересную книгу автора (McHugh Maureen F)

“Hello?” says her husband, Gus. “Hello, who is this?”

“It's Mila,” she says. “It's Mila, honey.”

“Mila?” he says. “That's what the Speed Dial said. “Where are you?”

“I'm at work,” she says.

“At P&G?” he says.

“No, honey, now I work for Gillette. You worked for Gillette, too.”

“I did not,” he says, suspicious. Gus has Alzheimer's. He is 57.

“Where's Cathy?” Mila asks.

“Cathy?” his voice lowers. “Is that her name? I was calling because she was here. What is she doing in
our house?”

“She's there to help you,” Mila says helplessly. Cathy is the new home health. She's been watching Gus
during the day for almost three weeks now, but Gus still calls to ask who she is.

“She's black,” Gus says. “Not that it matters. Is she from the neighborhood? Is she Dan's friend?” Dan is
their son. He's twenty-five and living in Boulder.

“Are you hungry?” Mila asks. “Cathy can make you a sandwich. Do you want a sandwich?”

“I don't need help,” Gus says, “Where's my car? Is it in the shop?”

“Yes,” Mila says, seizing on the excuse.

“No it's not,” he says. “You're lying to me. There's a woman here, some strange woman, and she's taken
my car.”

“No, baby,” Mila says. “You want me to come home for lunch?” It's eleven, she could take an early
lunch. Not that she really wants to go home if Gus is agitated.

Gus hangs up the phone.

Motherfucker. She grabs her purse.
****


Cathy is standing at the door, holding her elbows. Cathy is twenty-five and Gus is her first assignment
from the home healthcare agency. Mila likes her, likes even her beautifully elaborate long, polished
fingernails. “Mrs. Schuster? Mr. Schuster is gone. I was going to follow his minder but he took my
locater. I'm sorry, it was in my purse and I never thought he'd take it out—”

“Oh, Jesus,” Mila says. She runs upstairs and gets her minder from her bedside table. She flicks it on